The iKNOW Politics Team welcomes you to our Library! We have the strong commitment of making available, for free, relevant resources and publications related to the political empowerment of women and support women politicians, practitioners, academics, experts, and the general public alike. Currently we have more than 983 different resources, searchable below by keyword, type of resource and thematic. Interested in region or country-specific resources? Please visit our homepage and use our word map! Please send us your feedback and to connect@iknowpolitics.org. We hope you will enjoy the iKNOW Politics online library!

International IDEA has conceptualized this Framework in order to provide an example of the main elements of an internal gender policy for an electoral management body (EMB).
Its purpose is to support EMBs in their aspirations and efforts to create their own internal gender policies in recognition of their mandates and political status in different countries around the world.
Lessons from initiatives involving EMBs in International IDEA Member States, as well as EMBs in other states, show that EMBs recognize that, as key national institutions, they need to address and overcome both internal... Read more

International IDEA has conceptualized this Framework in order to provide an example of the main elements of an internal gender policy for an electoral management body (EMB).
Its purpose is to support EMBs in their aspirations and efforts to create...

The impact of economic resources on the political participation of women has become a prominent issue in the field of comparative political finance.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that politics dominated by money is, more often than not, politics dominated by men. It is not surprising that the issue has moved to the forefront of debates on gender and political finance.
This report assesses the extent to which political finance is a significant obstacle to women running for political office. It focuses on the experience of Colombia, a country that, like many other Latin... Read more

The impact of economic resources on the political participation of women has become a prominent issue in the field of comparative political finance.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that politics dominated by money is, more...

Over the last twenty years, the world has witnessed a dramatic rise in the number of women serving in elected and appointed political roles. Having more women in politics has been viewed in largely positive terms, as leading to attention to a wider range of policy issues, including those beneficial to women; inspiring greater interest and engagement in politics among women as a group, particularly younger women; and eroding historical associations between men and politics, generating broader transformations in gender roles.
Yet there is also growing awareness of backlash and resistance... Read more

Over the last twenty years, the world has witnessed a dramatic rise in the number of women serving in elected and appointed political roles. Having more women in politics has been viewed in largely positive terms, as leading to attention to a wider...

By Laura Cohn
Safa Al Hashem will be the sole woman in Kuwait’s parliament as it struggles to diversify.
In its weekend election, the tiny oil-rich nation of Kuwait had the opportunity to substantially boost the share of women in its parliament. And like Americans earlier this month, its voters failed to deliver those big gains.
Fifteen women ran for the 50 open seats in Kuwait’s 65-member parliament, but only one won: Safa Al Hashem, whose reelection keeps her as the only woman in the legislative body. Her status as Kuwait’s sole female MP illustrates the legislative body’s struggle to... Read more

By Laura Cohn
Safa Al Hashem will be the sole woman in Kuwait’s parliament as it struggles to diversify.
In its weekend election, the tiny oil-rich nation of Kuwait had the opportunity to substantially boost the share of women in its parliament. And...

“This battle will liberate us; we want to be involved in the decision making process. Women will not continue to be used as fillers,” declared Socorro Torres, coordinator of the Honduras Interparty Women’s Network (Red de Mujeres Interpartidarias de Honduras, or the Network). Torres’s comments were in response to the historic ratification of a pact between members of Honduras’s leading political parties, affirming women’s equality in political participation.
On October, 20, 2016, party leaders and aspiring presidential candidates from seven of Honduras’s ten political parties met in the... Read more

“This battle will liberate us; we want to be involved in the decision making process. Women will not continue to be used as fillers,” declared Socorro Torres, coordinator of the Honduras Interparty Women’s Network (Red de Mujeres Interpartidarias de...

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance — International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. International IDEA’s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building; by providing knowledge resources, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policy makers, governments,... Read more

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance — International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. International IDEA’s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by...

Georgia’s October 2016 parliamentary elections were characterized by an open political environment, a competitive campaign, overall results that were validated by credible observers, and some underlying problems that need concerted attention. NDI's final report draws attention to a set of recommendations that could contribute to greater public confidence in the approaching local and presidential elections.
The elections were characterized by an open political environment, a competitive campaign, overall results that were validated by credible observers, and some underlying problems that need... Read more

Georgia’s October 2016 parliamentary elections were characterized by an open political environment, a competitive campaign, overall results that were validated by credible observers, and some underlying problems that need concerted attention. NDI's...

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is working to promote the organization of credible and participatory elections in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Building on past election experiences, post-election reports and election observation recommendations, to mention a few, the IEC has embarked on an ambitious process to engage actively in electoral reform. In this context, the IEC requested the support of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Support (International IDEA) to support IEC in
1. Developing an institutional Gender and Social Inclusion policy that can ; and
2. Assess... Read more

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is working to promote the organization of credible and participatory elections in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Building on past election experiences, post-election reports and election observation recommendations,...

In 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote that American women shouldn’t "wrinkle their foreheads with politics." A century and a half later, when Hillary Clinton was born, that attitude still prevailed.
That year, 1947, the US had zero female senators, zero female governors. The Supreme Court, and the Oval Office of course, had only ever seen men. It was only really in the past 40 years that women learned they could lead and men learned they could be led by women.
That revolution in American culture is still ongoing, but the idea that women are naturally unfit for government is now so alien to younger... Read more

In 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote that American women shouldn’t "wrinkle their foreheads with politics." A century and a half later, when Hillary Clinton was born, that attitude still prevailed.
That year, 1947, the US had zero female senators, zero...

Parliamentary elections in Morocco took place on the 7th of October, 2016. Around 16 million Moroccans of the country's 34 million were registered to vote. Candidates from 30 parties competed to win seats in the 395-member Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. The ruling Justice and Development Party remained the largest party, winning 125 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, a gain of 18 seats compared to the 2011 elections. Abdelillah Benkirane was reappointed Prime Minister by the King on 10 October.
A constitutional monarchy, Morocco's parliament is made... Read more

Parliamentary elections in Morocco took place on the 7th of October, 2016. Around 16 million Moroccans of the country's 34 million were registered to vote. Candidates from 30 parties competed to win seats in the 395-member Chamber of Representatives...

By Euan McKirdy, CNN
The highest -- and toughest -- glass ceiling remains unshattered.
This year's presidential election ultimately was not kind to Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential nominee for a major party, but down-ballot, some of the election's female candidates made history.
From the Senate and the House to statehouses across the country, female challengers won office. The US Senate will welcome four new female members.
"I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think right now,"... Read more

By Euan McKirdy, CNN
The highest -- and toughest -- glass ceiling remains unshattered.
This year's presidential election ultimately was not kind to Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential nominee for a major party, but down-ballot, some of...

By Erin Donelly
Oregon Democrat Kate Brown became the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor yesterday. Though Gov. Brown is married to a man, she identifies as a bisexual woman.
Gov. Brown was actually the incumbent in Oregon's gubernatorial race against Republican challenger Bud Pierce. She took over as governor in February 2015 following the resignation of scandal-plagued former Gov. John Kitzhaber; as secretary of state, she was first in line of succession. After last night, she has been officially elected to the office, and made history in the process.
Though she is the first... Read more

By Erin Donelly
Oregon Democrat Kate Brown became the first openly LGBT person to be elected governor yesterday. Though Gov. Brown is married to a man, she identifies as a bisexual woman.
Gov. Brown was actually the incumbent in Oregon's...

Polls show that Georgians would like to see more women in their parliament. Currently, women make up 12 percent of the Georgian legislature, behind the average of 25.8 percent for European countries and placing Georgia at 147 of 194 countries worldwide in women’s political representation. The infographic analysis reveals current numbers on women's participation as candidates in Georgia's October 8 parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Source: NDI Read more

Polls show that Georgians would like to see more women in their parliament. Currently, women make up 12 percent of the Georgian legislature, behind the average of 25.8 percent for European countries and placing Georgia at 147 of 194 countries...

Electoral violence subverts basic standards for democratic elections, which are a cornerstone of democratic governance. The effects, or even merely the threat, of violence can undermine the legitimacy of electoral results and broader political processes. Violence against women in elections is a particular form of electoral violence, motivated by a desire to prevent women as women from participating in the electoral. Read more

Electoral violence subverts basic standards for democratic elections, which are a cornerstone of democratic governance. The effects, or even merely the threat, of violence can undermine the legitimacy of electoral results and broader political...

As part of its ongoing effort to empower Jordanian women to more effectively engage in the political process, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) launched a program on “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Elections.” The program targeted women leaders from all 12 governorates and the Bedouin districts who expressed an interest in running in the parliament elections, held in September 2016. Lern more about the program “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Elections.” Read more

As part of its ongoing effort to empower Jordanian women to more effectively engage in the political process, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) launched a program on “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Elections.” The program targeted women...

Through its “Votes Without Violence” initiative, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is developing and testing new strategies to address violence against women in elections. Collecting needed data on this under-reported issue provides institutions, organizations and individuals the information they need to take informed action to support women’s right to freely participate in elections. To that end, a website was launched on 19 October 2016 by NDI's Senior Advisor for Gender, Women and Democracy, Caroline Hubbard, at the 11th Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Principles for... Read more

Through its “Votes Without Violence” initiative, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is developing and testing new strategies to address violence against women in elections. Collecting needed data on this under-reported issue provides...

Party leader tells committee he backs all-female shortlists and is determined to have 50/50 representation by next election.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called for all-female shortlists to achieve equal representation in parliament and wants to aim for the same in public offices, as part of a series of wide-ranging measures to address the under-representation of women in public life.
Labour – which has 43% female MPs – risks losing 23 sitting MPs as a result of the 2018 Boundary Commission review, while more than 20 female Labour MPs could face deselection, according to the... Read more

Party leader tells committee he backs all-female shortlists and is determined to have 50/50 representation by next election.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called for all-female shortlists to achieve equal representation in parliament and...

We may think we know what it is like to be a woman in Saudi Arabia. Women must all cover up in public. Women cannot drive nor can they travel without the permission of a man. Women are restricted in work, and study, and social activities. But Saudi women, like women anywhere, are dreamers and fighters, eager to have a voice. The New York Times’ Mona El-Naggar takes us inside the kingdom and introduces us to three proud and dynamic women, each determined to test the bounds of her society in different ways. The setting is a city council election in Riyadh, where in 2015 Saudi women were allowed... Read more

We may think we know what it is like to be a woman in Saudi Arabia. Women must all cover up in public. Women cannot drive nor can they travel without the permission of a man. Women are restricted in work, and study, and social activities. But Saudi...

This is a unique collection of data on the use of gender quotas around the world. It presents an overview of trends and challenges in the implementation of quotas, and it includes profiles of 85 countries and territories with detailed description of quota systems used in them. The information is extracted from the Global Database of Quotas for Women (www.quotaproject.org) a joint database between the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Stockholm University and International IDEA. Read more

This is a unique collection of data on the use of gender quotas around the world. It presents an overview of trends and challenges in the implementation of quotas, and it includes profiles of 85 countries and territories with detailed description of...

Women’s rights campaigners in Jordan believe the country is slowly moving towards more progressive political representation after female MPs won 20 of 130 seats in parliamentary elections on 20 September, compared with 18 out of 150 in the previous parliament. The growing relevance of women in Jordanian politics, evident in campaign posters clustered at roundabouts and lining roadsides countrywide in the buildup to polling, was reflected in a contest that featured 252 female candidates, the highest number to date.
Under the new electoral law, passed last year, Jordan has been divided into 23... Read more

Women’s rights campaigners in Jordan believe the country is slowly moving towards more progressive political representation after female MPs won 20 of 130 seats in parliamentary elections on 20 September, compared with 18 out of 150 in the previous...

The extent of women’s representation in elected office in any given country is determined by a wide range of factors, including the general progress towards achieving equality of rights and opportunities among women and men in public and private spheres, the choice of political and electoral systems, and the level of institutionalization of – and transparency in – decision-making processes within political parties. Nonetheless, within this complex set of factors, political parties are often referred to as the “gatekeepers” of women’s political participation. Barriers such as direct or... Read more

The extent of women’s representation in elected office in any given country is determined by a wide range of factors, including the general progress towards achieving equality of rights and opportunities among women and men in public and private...

Extensive research shows that when women run for office, they perform just as well as men. Yet women remain severely under-represented in our political institutions. In this report, we argue that the fundamental reason for women’s under-representation is that they do not run for office. There is a substantial gender gap in political ambition; men tend to have it, and women don’t.
The results put forward in this report are based on the Citizen Political Ambition Panel Study, a research project the authors Richard L. Fox and Jennifer L. Lawless have been conducting over the course of the last... Read more

Extensive research shows that when women run for office, they perform just as well as men. Yet women remain severely under-represented in our political institutions. In this report, we argue that the fundamental reason for women’s under-...

Many Canadians are grappling with the prospect of changes to Canada’s First Past the Post electoral system. The current consultation phase represents an enormous opportunity to better understand the limitations and opportunities of electoral systems generally.
This overview generated by Equal Voice articulates the strengths and weaknesses of three categories of electoral systems that are being considered by parties, non-governmental organizations, and the media. It is designed to promote an enhanced understanding among Canadians of what is at stake for women in this process.
Women currently... Read more

Many Canadians are grappling with the prospect of changes to Canada’s First Past the Post electoral system. The current consultation phase represents an enormous opportunity to better understand the limitations and opportunities of electoral systems...

The U.S. isn’t the only country deep into an election season. The former Soviet republic of Georgia, which gained independence in 1991, is heading into parliamentary elections in October. But while Hillary Clinton is busy breaking down gender barriers in U.S. politics, in Georgia women remain severely under-represented in the halls of power.
Entrenched patriarchal attitudes about women and girls in Georgia are reflected in high rates of gender-based and domestic violenceand very low rates of women in political leadership positions. Currently, only 12 percent of the MPs in the national... Read more

The U.S. isn’t the only country deep into an election season. The former Soviet republic of Georgia, which gained independence in 1991, is heading into parliamentary elections in October. But while Hillary Clinton is busy breaking down gender...

In a historic first, Hillary Clinton was named the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in the upcoming U.S. elections. If she wins, she will join Theresa May of Britain and Angela Merkel of Germany in the ranks of women who lead prominent Western democracies.
They're not alone, either. In recent years, the number of women holding positions in both parliament and executive government has grown. As of June 2016, women’s membership in parliament doubled from 11.3 percent in 1995 to 22.1 percent in 2015, according to a recent study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
And this year alone, there... Read more

In a historic first, Hillary Clinton was named the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in the upcoming U.S. elections. If she wins, she will join Theresa May of Britain and Angela Merkel of Germany in the ranks of women who lead prominent...

The first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's lower house of parliament has promised to bring the "fighting spirit of her clan" to political life.
In her maiden speech, Linda Burney wore a traditional kangaroo-skin cloak with her personal totem, the white cockatoo, known as the noisy messenger bird.
She lambasted calls for the Racial Discrimination Act to be watered down.
She warned that indigenous Australians still suffered disproportionately high rates of poverty and ill-health.
Usual protocol in the House of Representatives in Canberra was relaxed to allow a woman from Ms Burney's... Read more

The first Aboriginal woman elected to Australia's lower house of parliament has promised to bring the "fighting spirit of her clan" to political life.
In her maiden speech, Linda Burney wore a traditional kangaroo-skin cloak with her personal totem...

It is election time in Zambia, with citizens going to the polls today to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors, and to vote in a constitutional referendum. It looks to be a close race, but unfortunately not as far as women are concerned. What could have been a golden opportunity for women to flourish in the political arena has failed to materialise. Once again, women have been significantly thwarted by obstacles including political violence, prohibitive regulations and patriarchal attitudes. Luckily our Zambian partners, the Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) and Women... Read more

It is election time in Zambia, with citizens going to the polls today to elect the President, Members of Parliament and Councillors, and to vote in a constitutional referendum. It looks to be a close race, but unfortunately not as far as women are...

The Atlantic publishes the following article on the relationship between American Muslim women and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Access the original article at The Atlantic’s website.
Donald Trump has effectively declared Muslims the enemy, accusing them of shielding terrorists in their midst, pushing to ban them from entering the country, and suggesting that the United States should start thinking seriously about profiling them. In response, some American Muslim women are speaking out against Trump and his anti-Muslim rhetoric.
“I never really felt like I was ‘the other’ until now,”... Read more

The Atlantic publishes the following article on the relationship between American Muslim women and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Access the original article at The Atlantic’s website.
Donald Trump has effectively declared Muslims the enemy, ...

TITLE: A woman’s place is apparently not in the house (either of them): Discrimination and harassment of women in politics
ABSTRACT: Women continue to be under-represented in politics around the world. Myriad obstacles face politically ambitious women, including institutional barriers and a lack of support structures. While the nature of the obstacles might change once elected, women continue to face hurdles even after they win office. In this presentation I look at the treatment of women politicians in Japan and Australia to demonstrate that women in political office face particular and... Read more

TITLE: A woman’s place is apparently not in the house (either of them): Discrimination and harassment of women in politics
ABSTRACT: Women continue to be under-represented in politics around the world. Myriad obstacles face politically ambitious...

Women are chronically underrepresented in U.S. politics. Yet TV shows, fictions, and films have leapt ahead of the electoral curve to give us our first female president(s). What messages about women and power do these fictional representations of female politicians send? What connections (if any) can we draw between representation and reality? What challenges do real-life women politicians face as they represent themselves to voters and to the press?
Mary Anne Marsh is a Boston-based political consultant who has worked on many local and national campaigns. She also serves as a Democratic... Read more

Women are chronically underrepresented in U.S. politics. Yet TV shows, fictions, and films have leapt ahead of the electoral curve to give us our first female president(s). What messages about women and power do these fictional representations of...

This article was written by Sarah Cooper, the National Democratic Institute.
Election observation initiatives are most effective when their findings are not only valid but also—more importantly—accepted as such by the majority of citizens. Observation teams should reflect the diversity of the population so that observer groups can truly speak in the name of all citizens. Gender balance is an important consideration in the composition of observer teams and leadership structures, both of which influence public perceptions of the observer group.
Integrating women into an observation effort... Read more

This article was written by Sarah Cooper, the National Democratic Institute.
Election observation initiatives are most effective when their findings are not only valid but also—more importantly—accepted as such by the majority of citizens....

A few months prior the UNESCO elections for the post of Director-General, Egypt decided to nominate the Egyptian ambassador and diplomat, Moushira Khattab to the post. The elections for a leader to fill the shoes of Irina Bokova (who has set her sights on the position of UN Secretary-General) will take place at the beginning of 2017.
Khattab's career: some numbers and dates
Khattab is an Egyptian diplomat who has led a lengthy and interesting career. She started out as a diplomatic attaché, progressing through the diplomatic service to become the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for... Read more

A few months prior the UNESCO elections for the post of Director-General, Egypt decided to nominate the Egyptian ambassador and diplomat, Moushira Khattab to the post. The elections for a leader to fill the shoes of Irina Bokova (who has set her...

Once A Somali Refugee, Fadumo Dayib is Now Running As Somalia's First Female President. Click here to access the original interview.
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Fadumo Dayib is trying to do something no one has ever done before. Despite overwhelming odds, she is vying to become Somalia's first female president. Those long odds have a lot to do with her own story. She has been a refugee for most of her life. Despite not learning how to read until she was 14 years old, she now has a master's degree from Harvard in public administration and is working on a Ph.D. But in a country with a dismal human... Read more

Once A Somali Refugee, Fadumo Dayib is Now Running As Somalia's First Female President. Click here to access the original interview.
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Fadumo Dayib is trying to do something no one has ever done before. Despite overwhelming odds,...

Six of the twelve candidates for the job of UN Secretary-General are women, but in the first informal vote at the Security Council only one woman made it to the top five. Why?
On July 21st the UN Security Council conducted the first (but not the final by any means) informal poll to identify top candidates for the job of next UN Secretary-General. For the first time in history, fifty percent of the candidates - six of the twelve - are women. But a more familiar history repeated itself during the polling: the male candidates fared much better than the women. Only one woman figured amongst the... Read more

Six of the twelve candidates for the job of UN Secretary-General are women, but in the first informal vote at the Security Council only one woman made it to the top five. Why?
On July 21st the UN Security Council conducted the first (but not the...

UN leaders and experts have sent an Open Letter to each member of the UN Security Council asking for the selection of a woman and gender equality champion as the next UN Secretary-General.
People who know the UN well have written to the members of the Security Council, urging them to select a woman as the next Secretary-General. An Open Letter (text below) from the Campaign to Select a Woman for the Next UN Secretary-General has been signed by 45 UN leaders and by experts on the UN. The signatories include individuals who have served the UN as leaders of UN peacekeeping missions, senior... Read more

UN leaders and experts have sent an Open Letter to each member of the UN Security Council asking for the selection of a woman and gender equality champion as the next UN Secretary-General.
People who know the UN well have written to the members of...

New article presents an analysis and implications for women’s political empowerment of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
But as she is lauded at home with a historic presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton is being praised abroad for decades of quiet work that put the rights of women around the world at the top of the agenda.
“She’s a strong voice for women since Beijing and that strong advocacy has not gone unnoticed by women around the world,” says Martha Karua, Kenya’s former justice minister, referring to a pioneering UN conference in 1995 on women.
Although the US press corps rarely asks her... Read more

New article presents an analysis and implications for women’s political empowerment of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
But as she is lauded at home with a historic presidential nomination, Hillary Clinton is being praised abroad for decades of quiet...

Foreign Policy has published an article on women’ss political leadership. Studies show that when women comprise around 25 percent of a group, their influence dramatically reshapes culture. Is 2016 the year women change the world?
For the first time in history, the inner chambers of global leadership may go genuinely coed. The anointment of Theresa May as Britain’s next prime minister, the seemingly endless rule of Angela Merkel in Germany, the brightening prospects of Hillary Clinton in the U.S. presidential race, and the presence of women on the shortlist to succeed U.N. Secretary-General... Read more

Foreign Policy has published an article on women’ss political leadership. Studies show that when women comprise around 25 percent of a group, their influence dramatically reshapes culture. Is 2016 the year women change the world?
For the first time...

Is there a new trend in women world leaders? This article tries to give an answer to this interesting question, with inputs from different organizations, including UN Women.
Britain’s Theresa May recently took office as the first woman prime minister since Margaret Thatcher. This week, Hillary Clinton will become the first American woman to receive the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
These examples, along with others around the world, seem to indicate that women are making solid progress in global politics. But the most recent United Nations report on global women leaders... Read more

Is there a new trend in women world leaders? This article tries to give an answer to this interesting question, with inputs from different organizations, including UN Women.
Britain’s Theresa May recently took office as the first woman prime...